Sunday, November 28, 2010

Hello again

I can't believe it has been over a month since my last post! I knew teaching a graduate class at Portland State University, in addition to working full time, would be a ton of work and very time intensive, but --WOW! Plus, there's a wedding to be planned!

Somehow, a lack of time to sew has not translated into a lack of time to buy. This is the result of feeling sorry for myself for working overtime while friends frolicked at Quilt Market.

When I last posted, I was determined to catch up on bee blocks by the end of that week. Well, that didn't happen. However, I spent the last couple of days making bee blocks in between other holiday weekend festivities, and I'm very pleased with the results.

Bee blocks for Beth: She chose the pattern and the fabrics in the block on the left, I chose fabrics in the block on the right to coordinate with her choices.

Bee block for Dee: She chose the pattern and fabrics, which I enjoyed using. Each member of the bee is using different blue and green fabrics sent by Dee. You all know how I much I love blue and green!

Bee block for Lesly for her red and aqua snails trail quilt.

Bee blocks for Ruth, who asked for 1/4 log cabin blocks in the fabrics she provided.

Bee block for Frieda: She sent the fabrics and left the block design up to each participant, with a few stipulations.

Bee block for Claudia: She sent the fabrics and pattern for Ohio star blocks.

Bee block for Heidi: I finished this block before realizing that I should have made two blocks. Although I didn't have any difficulty with this block, I immediately made a cutting error on the second, so now need more fabric before I can make its twin.

Blocks ready for mailing -- a beautiful sight!

I also turned my attention to my Bee Hexed In group, which started in October. Brioni chose one of my favorite color palettes for her block.

Hexies in Waiting

A Canvas for Hexies

Bee Hexed In Block in Progress

This pile of fabrics will hopefully start turning into hexagons by this evening for Chris'sBee Hexed In block. Her palette of grays, browns, and other neutrals is turning out to be absolutely fabulous. You can see more Bee Hexed In blocks here.

Have you been keeping up with the Portland Modern Quilt Guild blog? Next month will be my last month as secretary. I haven't missed a meeting since our first one in Multnomah Village on March 18, and it is just amazing to look at how far this group has come in such a short time! Please read about our November meeting, which featured Kristin Link of Sew, Mama, Sew! and the Green Grocery Bag Challenge and ended with a fabric destash and homemade craft item swap and sale.

16 comments:

So good to hear from you Joan. Some lovely blocks you've got going there, and thanks for all the eye candy from your modern guild. They'll miss you as secretary. Hope things settle down for you soon (although with a wedding coming up that might be unlikely!)

Beautiful bee blocks. My favorite? The bee hexed in blocks. Wish I would have jumped on that block exchange! And the stack on the bottom--love it! Oh, and SOOO glad you got us caught up on what's happening.

Me too, I LOVE that "bee hexed" block! Fantastic. You've been so busy and still you managed to make so many bee blocks. This confirms my beliefs that the busier we are the more we can achieve. When I'm not busy, somehow I don't get ANYTHING done (;.

Yay, you're back, blogging AND sewing! How wonderful that must feel! Your Portland quilt guild meetings always feature the most awe-inspiring quilt projects. Love all the bee blocks you got caught up on. The blocks for Beth and Dee are my favorites, but I love what you have going on for that hexie canvas too. Happy to see you having some fun!

What a busy lady you have been....for quite a while it would seem! I'm glad that you got to do some sewing and catching up, Joan. I took a look at the PMQG blog...looks like you have some great quilters and fun meetings. Your photography is lovely! Thanks for sharing. It makes me want to poke around in all of the MQG sites to see what is going on.

Joan, you have been missed!!! So glad to see you have found time to shop AND sew. You've made some awesome blocks. Love the hexies. I do so enjoy checking the Portland MQG blog. I should become a Follower to make sure I don't miss anything....but felt weird since I'm a member of the OMQG. You've done a great job as Secretary. Love seeing all the photos.

Dedication

This blog is dedicated to the memory of my mother. who sewed my school clothes, finished my sewing projects when I lost interest in them, gave me my first sewing machine, and got me started on needlepoint and embroidery. She would be so happy to know that I share her love of fabric and needlework, and whenever I finish a project, I feel her pleasure.

About Me

I have been studying and doing needlework of one kind or another my whole life (needlepoint, counted thread embroidery, and quilting).
The title of my blog is from this--
Sentiment to Send with Gifts: With Embroidery or Needlework of any Kind:
May all your years be glad and bright,
Deep filled with pleasant days,
And all your hours know sweet delight
Of love that stays and stays!
With each such wishes, true and kind,
Each Christmas (New Year) (Birthday) should begin,
While some of these must surely bind,
Because they've been sewed in!
--- The Delineator, 1910, Ethel Colson